The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-02-26

nre Is not quenched, refer to the filth
carried from the city into the valley of
Hinnom, south of Jerusalem, and the
perpetual fires kept up to consume it,
and to the worms that would constant
ly breed in the putrid mass. This view
is supported by passage in Isai.
Xvi. "a: Sand they shall go forth, and
look upon the carcases Of the men
that have transgressed against me; for
their worm shall not die; neither shall
their fires be quenched; and they shall
he an abhorring unto all flesh"
This was to be at Jerusalem, at the
destruction of that city, when the val
ley of Hmm, Geheonna, hell, would be
filled by the bodies of dead men,
instead Of other filth from the city. 1t
seems plain that fire, which had for
its object the removal of filth and the
protection of the health of the city, can
not represent any punishment, but that
which is salutary to the moral health Of
the subjects of it. The change of pu-
trid flesh into living creatures, so far
as it goes, has the same significance.
That the worm did not die, nor the fire
be quenched, were favorable conditions,
and indispensable to the salutary re-
suit.
1t may be added, that fire which is
not quenched, will not necessarily burn
forever. 1t will burn, and should burn,
SO long as the fuel is supplied nor will
it be queDcbed when there is no more
fuel, but will go out of its own accord.
II is the same with divine punishment.
So long as men sin, punishment will be
continued. It will come to an end, as
we believe, because sin will. If we
would have the fire 60 out, the matter
is in our own hands-we must cease to
supply the fuel. 1t will be interesting
to the reader to know that the early
Christians, who first applied Gehenna
to future punishment, held and taught,
that the punishment so represented is
limited ana salutary, resulting in the
holiness and happiness Of all who suf
fered it. But it was not so applied or
understood till after the time of Christ.
4. In one of the parallels, in the 18th
of Matthew, namely, the wheat and
the Tares," the tares are said to be cast
into the furnace of fire. If the tares
denote the wicked, as there can be little
doubt, their utter destruction would
seem to be indicated. But this need
not be the humiliation of the soul; for
men are often said to be destroyed,
when there is no allusion to the soul
or to a spiritual existence. The Saviour
seems to have had in mind the passage
in the Old Testament, already noticed,
in which Jerusalem is compared to a
furnace, into which the Jews were to
be gathered. At the destruction of
their city by the Romans they were so
gathered, both on account of the Pass
over, and to escape from the Roman
armies which were laying waste the
country. And in this crowded city,
there was literally much Of weeping
and crashing of teeth" and the greater
part were miserably destroyed. Jesus
said the parable would be fulfilled at
the end Of the age; and that was the
time when Jerusalem was overthrown,
opd fha nation poriohod
5. There is an interesting passage,
in Cor. iii, Il, Is, that belongs to our
subject: "Other foundation can no man
lay, than that which is laid, which is
Jesus Christ. But if any man buildeth
on the foundation, gold, silver, costly
stones, wood, hay, stubole; each mans
work shall be made manifest; for the
day shall declare it, because it is re-
vealed in fire; and the fire itself shall
prove each mans work, of what sort it
is. If any mans work shall abide,
which he built thereon, he shall receive
a reward. If any mans work shall be
burned, he shall suffer loss; but he
himselfs shall be saved, yet so as through
fire.''
This passage seems to refer to the
different theological and moral systems,
which men, who were leaders in the
church, even at that early day were
attempting to build on the basis of the
gospel. All these systems contained
more or less error, represented by wood,
hay, and stubble; and they all contained
some gold, silver, aud costly stones.
All the combustible materials would of
course, be burned; and to that extent
the builder would suffer loss-he would
lose the reward which he would have
gained if he had employed mora sub
stantial materials. Those whose work
stood the fiery ordeal would receive
reward. The loss of reward by the
others is all the punishment they de-
serve. They themselves shall be saved,
yet so as through fire.
This is much more liberal than some
of our modern teachers. These last are
very hard on the "wood, hay and
stubble," though they seem to have
quite their share. We rejoice to know
that these combustible things are no
bar to their salvation. And if their